4 Transition Tips to Go from Corporate Office to Home Office

I have been working from home for nearly 10 years. While I wouldn’t consider myself a work from home expert, I can surely say that I have picked up quite a bit of wisdom as I transitioned over from Corporate America to home headquarters.

If you’re getting ready to move from your office to your home setting, whether you are staying with your company, moving on to a new one or running your own business from home, there will surely be some growing pains as you transition.

Working from home full time or even one day a week can be quite the balancing act and can take some time getting used to; many will say it can even get a bit more stressful to manage time effectively.

Here are 4 tips to help ease the transition from corporate office to home office:

Create a Home Office: You’ll want to find the balance between work and home or else one or both will spill onto each other and that is not good. Set yourself up for success by creating a workspace where your environment is conducive to your daily tasks. If you don’t have the space for your own home office, consider setting up a small corner desk in a quiet room or you could even repurpose a closet and make it your own office space. Pinterest has some great home office setup ideas. You’ll want to remain efficient and able to stay engaged when participating in phone meetings and getting through your to-do list. Doing this from the start will help ensure you stay focused and on task.

Have a solid childcare plan in place: Some people might think because they will be working from home they can avoid paying for childcare. Keep in mind that working from home requires discipline and focus, just as you have working in an office setting. By arranging childcare, your children will appreciate having fun and engaging activities to do during the day if they are with a caregiver that can provide them their 100% attention. Summer camps are ideal for when kids are out of school, but parents still need to work. If a summer camp program isn’t in your budget, consider hiring a helping hand during the day in home while you work. Think of local college students who come home for the summer and are looking for a job, this could be an efficient and affordable option.

Use technology to stay connected: Working from home can leave many feeling like an introvert by the end of the day. Think about how you can utilize technology to help you stay connected with your team. Ensure you have weekly calls scheduled to catch up with co-workers or you can even use your video camera on your computer to visually engage with co-workers, clients and leadership.

Utilize that extra time to your advantage: Unless you work 5 minutes down the road from work, I don’t know one person who enjoys their commute. For many, commuting to work can take up over 2 hours a day, and it can add stress to your day. When you work from home, you ditch the commute and can get back that time spent in your car. What would you do with an extra two hours? Perhaps you start your day earlier to get in some extra time for those pesky administrative tasks that are always left hanging. Or maybe you can finally prepare a healthy meal for your family that you simply never had time or energy for after a long commute home.

Have you recently moved from working in the office to working from home? What has helped you in the transition? Have a home office set up you’re proud of? Share a picture with us below.

About the blogger: Angela Caban is an Army National Guard spouse, published author and branding expert. In 2010, she founded the Homefront United Network, a military spouse and family support blog created to assist spouses who do not live near an installation, but also focusing on bridging the gap between National Guard, Reserve and Active Duty spouses. She has an extensive background in Human Resources and Communications, with her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Human Resources. Angela resides in the beautiful Garden State of New Jersey with her husband and two children.